The cold night air pressed against Damian's skin as he walked home, the distant hum of traffic the only sound breaking the silence. He felt restless. For days, something had been gnawing at the edge of his awareness, an unease he couldn't quite explain. He chalked it up to paranoia, the stress of recent strange occurrences weighing heavily on him.
Then he heard it. Footsteps.
Not the casual steps of a pedestrian. These were calculated, deliberate, and far too quiet for his liking. His instincts screamed at him, something was wrong.
He spun around. The street behind him was empty.
His pulse quickened. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm, but his muscles tensed involuntarily. He started walking faster, turning into an alley where he could slip away unnoticed if necessary. The moment he turned the corner, his body reacted before his mind could process it.
A shadow blurred in front of him, a figure moving at an impossible speed. Damian barely had time to register the threat before something lashed out toward him. He ducked instinctively, the wind of the near-miss brushing past his face. His heart pounded as he backed away, scanning his surroundings.
Three figures stood in the darkness, their presence suffocating.
"Damn it," one of them muttered. "He's faster than we expected."
Damian's eyes narrowed. "Who the hell are you?"
The tallest of the group stepped forward, his movements eerily smooth. "You'll find out soon enough."
Damian wasn't interested in waiting. His instincts took over, and he lunged forward, throwing a punch aimed at the nearest figure's head. He expected the impact to be solid, to send the man sprawling, but instead, his opponent twisted impossibly fast, dodging with unnatural grace.
What?
The realization barely had time to settle before another one of them moved. A clawed hand lashed toward Damian's chest. He twisted just in time, feeling the air shift from the near miss. He countered with a brutal elbow strike to the attacker's ribs. A satisfying crack echoed in the alley, and the man staggered backward.
Shock flickered in the attacker's glowing red eyes. "He's…. he's too strong for a newborn."
Newborn?
The term made no sense, but Damian had no time to process it. The remaining two attacked simultaneously. He ducked, weaving between them with reflexes he didn't understand, his fists finding their mark with unnatural precision. His strength was greater than it had ever been, his speed beyond anything human. And yet…
They were still faster.
He dodged one blow, but the second landed squarely against his ribs, sending him skidding across the pavement. Pain erupted through his side, but he forced himself back to his feet. The leader smirked, his fangs flashing in the dim light.
Fangs.
Damian's breath caught. His mind reeled as he processed what he was seeing. The glowing eyes, the speed, the inhuman agility,
'No. That's not possible!' Damian exclaimed mentally.
Vampires weren't real. They were myths, fiction. And yet, the evidence stood before him, circling him like predators toying with their prey.
"Now you understand," the leader said, voice smooth and confident. "But it's too late."
Before Damian could react, two of them struck at once. He dodged one but not the other. A vicious kick slammed into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him. He stumbled, barely regaining balance before a clawed hand grabbed his wrist. He tried to yank free, but the grip was like iron.
The leader stepped forward, a satisfied smirk on his face. "You're not normal. That much is obvious." His grip tightened, forcing Damian to his knees. "We can't risk you resisting later."
The other two followed suit, pinning Damian down. He struggled, but their strength was overwhelming. A sharp pain exploded in his shoulder as one of them twisted his arm back, snapping the bone. He let out a strangled yell, his vision flashing white from the agony.
His body trembled, his breathing ragged. The pain was unbearable, and yet,
He felt something else.
A strange heat burned beneath his skin, pulsing through his veins like a dormant fire being rekindled. His mind blurred at the edges, and just as darkness threatened to consume him, something inside him roared to life.
[Primordial Ascension System Activated...]
[System Status: Critical Damage Detected...]
[Emergency Healing Engaged. Recovery Time: 24 Hours...]
His body convulsed. A warmth flooded his broken bones, his torn muscles, knitting them back together at a speed that should have been impossible, but it wasn't instant. His pain dulled but remained, and his strength was still drained. He wasn't healing fast enough to break free.
One of the vampires noticed the sudden change in his breathing and stiffened. "Wait, he's healing already?"
The leader's eyes narrowed. "Get him out of here. Now."
Darkness swallowed Damian's mind before he could resist.
....
Damian woke to the sensation of motion. The air was thick and sterile, the hum of an engine vibrating beneath him. He forced his eyes open, his body sluggish but no longer in excruciating pain. His surroundings were dim, metallic walls reflecting faint red lights.
A vehicle. Some kind of transport.
He shifted, testing his limbs. His injuries had mostly healed, but his body was still weak, drained. His captors sat at the other end of the confined space, watching him closely.
"He's awake," one of them muttered.
The leader sat forward. "You should be honored, Damian. Not many get to see our world."
Damian's jaw clenched. "Screw you."
The leader chuckled. "That's the spirit."
He leaned back, amused, as if the entire situation was nothing more than entertainment. Damian, however, wasn't in the mood for games. His mind raced. He needed a plan, needed to figure out how to escape before they reached their destination.
A door hissed open, and a new figure stepped inside. A woman.
Tall, poised, with piercing amber eyes that seemed to glow faintly in the dim light. There was something eerily familiar about her, though Damian couldn't place why.
She regarded him with quiet curiosity before turning to the leader. "So, this is him?"
The leader smirked. "Selene, that's Damian."
Selene's gaze lingered on him. Unlike the others, she wasn't openly hostile or smug. Instead, there was something almost analytical in the way she observed him.
Damian met her stare, his mind racing. He didn't know why, but something told him, this woman was different and, she felt somehow familiar, as if he had seen her before.
And somehow, she was going to change everything.
….
The hum of the vehicle beneath him faded as the transport slowed to a stop. Damian's head throbbed as he tried to shake off the lingering effects of his capture. His body had healed considerably, but his strength had not fully returned. The residual pain from his earlier injuries was a bitter reminder of his failure to escape.
The doors hissed open, revealing a darkened corridor beyond. A rush of cold, sterile air hit Damian as two of the vampires yanked him to his feet. He tried to resist, but his body was still too weak to break free.
"Move," one of them growled, shoving him forward.
Damian clenched his jaw, swallowing the retort that threatened to rise. Now wasn't the time to antagonize them. He needed information. He needed to understand where he was and what they wanted from him.
As he was led through the corridor, his surroundings became clearer. The architecture was unlike anything he had seen before, a strange fusion of gothic and futuristic designs. The high ceilings arched overhead, lined with glowing crimson runes pulsing faintly against the dark stone walls. The lighting was dim, but his newly enhanced eyesight adjusted quickly, revealing figures moving in the shadows, watching him.
They weren't just watching. They were studying him.
Whispers echoed along the walls as Damian was dragged through what appeared to be a grand hall. Tall figures stood in the periphery, their eyes glowing like embers in the dim light. He couldn't tell if their expressions were filled with curiosity or disdain.
At the end of the hall stood an imposing figure seated on an elaborate throne of obsidian and silver. The vampire exuded an aura of command, his piercing crimson eyes locking onto Damian the moment he stepped forward.
Selene walked ahead of Damian and stopped before the throne. "Lord Varian, we have brought him as ordered."
The one called Varian studied Damian for a long moment before speaking. "I expected someone… less resilient."
Damian held his gaze, refusing to appear intimidated. "Glad to disappoint."
Varian smirked. "You're stronger than a newly turned vampire should be. That much is clear. And yet, you are not one of us."
"Then why bring me here?" Damian demanded.
"Because you are an anomaly," Varian said simply. "And anomalies must be studied."
Damian felt a cold sensation settle in his gut. Studied. That didn't sound promising.
Varian turned to Selene. "You will oversee his integration. Train him. Observe him. And determine if he is useful."
Selene nodded. "Understood."
Damian narrowed his eyes. "Integration? You think I'm just going to go along with this?"
Varian's smile remained, but there was no warmth in it. "You'll find there are worse fates than cooperation, Damian."
Selene motioned for the guards to release him. As they let go, Damian rolled his shoulders, testing his movements. His strength was returning, but it wasn't enough yet.
"Follow me," Selene instructed, turning toward a side passage.
For now, he complied. But he was already planning his escape.
....
The room he was led to resembled a training hall. Sleek black stone covered the floors, and torches lined the walls, their flames flickering unnaturally without smoke. A handful of other vampires sparred in the background, moving with a speed and precision that was unsettling.
Selene gestured to the center of the room. "You wanted to fight back earlier. Here's your chance."
Damian arched a brow. "You're just going to let me fight?"
"No," Selene corrected. "I'm going to see what you're capable of."
Damian took a steadying breath. He was still recovering, but if he wanted to stand a chance at escaping, he needed to push himself now. He stepped forward, adjusting his stance as Selene took hers.
She moved first.
One moment, she was standing a few feet away. The next, she was right in front of him, her fist striking toward his ribs. Damian barely had time to react, twisting at the last second to avoid the full force of the blow. Still, the impact sent a jolt through his body, staggering him slightly.
He countered with a swift punch aimed at her side, but she was already moving, slipping past his attack with unnatural ease. He tried again, feinting left before launching a kick at her leg, but she dodged effortlessly.
Selene was fast. Faster than the others he had fought.
A smirk touched her lips. "You're holding back."
"No," Damian said through clenched teeth. "You're just too damn fast."
She struck again, this time aiming for his shoulder. He barely managed to block, but the force behind it made his bones ache. He tried to counter, using his speed to maneuver around her guard, but every attack was deflected or dodged with frustrating ease.
Selene wasn't just strong. She was experienced.
Damian gritted his teeth, forcing himself to focus. If he couldn't overpower her, he needed to outthink her. He changed tactics, waiting for her next move instead of attacking first.
She lunged. At the last second, he shifted, redirecting her momentum. It wasn't enough to fully knock her off balance, but it gave him an opening. He drove his knee upward, catching her in the stomach. The contact was brief, but it was a hit nonetheless.
Selene took a step back, eyes gleaming with something close to approval. "Better."
Damian exhaled sharply, his muscles burning. His body wasn't at full strength yet, and the exertion was taking its toll. Selene must have noticed because she relaxed her stance.
"That's enough for today," she said. "You're still recovering."
Damian wanted to argue, but he knew she was right. He had pushed himself too far already.
Selene studied him for a moment before speaking again. "You're not like the others. Your strength, your resilience… it's different."
Damian met her gaze. "And you're just now figuring that out?"
She didn't answer immediately, but there was something unreadable in her expression. "Get some rest. Tomorrow, we begin proper training."
Damian exhaled, nodding reluctantly. He wasn't sure what tomorrow would bring, but one thing was certain.
He needed to get stronger.
And fast. He now understood that he was a vampire, and to get stronger, he would have to cooperate, at least for the time being.